Shell Drills Two Dry Wells off Tanzania

Oil major Royal Dutch Shell has completed the drilling off two exploration wells offshore Tanzania but failed to find hydrocarbons.

The wells are located in Block 1 and 4, in the Mafia Deep basin, where Shell is the operator with 60 pct stake. Shell’s partners are Ophir Energy and Pavilion Energy with 20 pct stake each.

According to a statement by Ophir on Thursday, the drilling program off Tanzania comprised Kitatange-1 in Block 1 and Bunju-1 in Block 4.

After evaluation, Shell has confirmed that good quality reservoir was encountered in both wells, however hydrocarbons were not found, Ophir informed.

The wells were drilled with the Noble Globetrotter 2 drillship which has now been demobilized from the site. The two wells fulfill the final exploration commitments as per the exploration licenses issued by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM).

Subsequent to the completion of drilling Kitatange-1, a bridging license has been awarded for the existing discovery locations in Block 1.